Story Story TerminologyTerminology

All the All the “stuff”“stuff” you need to know you need to know

to better understand stories.to better understand stories.

The Four Legs of the TableThe Four Legs of the Table Stories rely on 4 Stories rely on 4

elementselements– CharacterCharacter– SettingSetting– PlotPlot– ThemeTheme

If a story relies on any If a story relies on any ONE element, then it is ONE element, then it is called “called “dependentdependent” ” (character dependent, (character dependent, setting dependent, etc.)setting dependent, etc.)

Like 4 legs on a table, Like 4 legs on a table, these elements help these elements help create a platform to create a platform to support a good storysupport a good story

CharacterCharacterMost character terminology is based on Most character terminology is based on

oppositesopposites Direct PresentationDirect Presentation

– An author An author TELLSTELLS you about a you about a character’s personality and his character’s personality and his developmentdevelopment

– ““He was a He was a mean manmean man who who enjoyed enjoyed tormenting otherstormenting others to get what he to get what he wanted out of life”wanted out of life”

Indirect PresentationIndirect Presentation – An author An author SHOWSSHOWS you a character’s you a character’s

personality and development; we personality and development; we infer the personality based on infer the personality based on observationobservation

– ““He crept slowly towards the elderly He crept slowly towards the elderly man sleeping in the seat in the man sleeping in the seat in the packed theatre. As he screamed, the packed theatre. As he screamed, the old man jumped up, and the man old man jumped up, and the man slipped into the now empty seat and slipped into the now empty seat and proceeded to watch the movie.”proceeded to watch the movie.”

CharacterCharacter ProtagonistProtagonist

– Main character who Main character who actively actively advances the plotadvances the plot

– There is only one protagonist in There is only one protagonist in each story unless there are each story unless there are several separate plots (“The several separate plots (“The Hours”, “Crash”)Hours”, “Crash”)

– The protagonist is not always The protagonist is not always the good guy (Anakin Skywalker the good guy (Anakin Skywalker in in Episode IIIEpisode III, Macbeth, Mr. , Macbeth, Mr. Bean)Bean)

AntagonistAntagonist – Character or force that works Character or force that works

against the protagonist getting against the protagonist getting what he wants to achievewhat he wants to achieve

– While there may be many While there may be many conflicts, there is only one main conflicts, there is only one main antagonist. antagonist.

CharacterCharacter Round CharacterRound Character

– A character who displays A character who displays many many different emotions and traitsdifferent emotions and traits

– Behaves like a real person, though Behaves like a real person, though not always realistic behaviornot always realistic behavior

– We feel We feel sympathysympathy (we’ve (we’ve experienced the same thing) or experienced the same thing) or empathyempathy (we can imagine (we can imagine experiencing the same thing) for experiencing the same thing) for these charactersthese characters

– We are happy for them; sad for themWe are happy for them; sad for them Flat CharacterFlat Character

– A character who A character who only displays one or only displays one or two dominant traits or emotionstwo dominant traits or emotions

– Often Often stereotypicalstereotypical (English butler, (English butler, dumb jock, computer geek) or dumb jock, computer geek) or utilitarianutilitarian (cashier, postman, waiter, (cashier, postman, waiter, etc)etc)

CharacterCharacter Dynamic CharacterDynamic Character

– A character who A character who learnslearns from from his experienceshis experiences during the during the story and develops or “grows” story and develops or “grows” as a result.as a result.

– These are These are emotional or emotional or spiritual changesspiritual changes, not physical , not physical changeschanges

Static CharacterStatic Character – A character who A character who remains remains

unchangedunchanged by his experiences by his experiences and does not become a and does not become a “better” person as a result. “better” person as a result.

– Despite what has happened Despite what has happened to him and around him, this to him and around him, this character has not “learned” character has not “learned” anythinganything

CharactersCharacters

As we read about characters we can make certain As we read about characters we can make certain observations based on the author’s descriptionobservations based on the author’s description

Physical AppearancePhysical Appearance (age, height, weight, clothes, beauty, (age, height, weight, clothes, beauty, etc.)etc.)

Mental LevelMental Level (intelligent, dumb, simple, education, etc.) (intelligent, dumb, simple, education, etc.) Emotional LevelEmotional Level (often stressed, optimistic, quick to anger, (often stressed, optimistic, quick to anger,

etc.)etc.) Spiritual LevelSpiritual Level (believes in God, higher power, atheist, (believes in God, higher power, atheist,

agnostic, not applicable, etc.)agnostic, not applicable, etc.) MotivationMotivation (Why does he want? What makes him get out of (Why does he want? What makes him get out of

bed in the morning? What does he want to achieve?)bed in the morning? What does he want to achieve?) DevelopmentDevelopment (Does the character change or learn anything (Does the character change or learn anything

during the story? Does he behave the same way as he did during the story? Does he behave the same way as he did at the beginning of the story?)at the beginning of the story?)

Character DescriptionCharacter Description Physical:Physical: Mr. Bean is Mr. Bean is

a a middle-aged manmiddle-aged man with with brown hairbrown hair, , brown eyesbrown eyes, a large , a large nose, big hands, and a nose, big hands, and a generally funny generally funny appearanceappearance. He . He usually wears a usually wears a brown brown suitsuit with a red tie. with a red tie.

Mental:Mental: He is quite He is quite intelligentintelligent and able to and able to solve difficult solve difficult problemsproblems, but often , but often does it in an does it in an unusual unusual wayway (which is where (which is where the humour happens).the humour happens).

Character DescriptionCharacter Description Emotional:Emotional: Mr. Bean Mr. Bean

expresses a wide range of expresses a wide range of emotions such as being emotions such as being happyhappy, , mischievousmischievous, , frustratedfrustrated, , selfishselfish, and , and sadsad. . Often these emotions are Often these emotions are openly openly expressed without expressed without concern for those aroundconcern for those around him him

Spiritual:Spiritual: While rarely While rarely expressed, Mr. Bean does expressed, Mr. Bean does attend churchattend church, but is , but is largely bored while there. largely bored while there. He appears to be a He appears to be a ““believerbeliever” but not really a ” but not really a ““practicerpracticer” as he often ” as he often puts his own needs before puts his own needs before othersothers..

Character DescriptionCharacter Description Motivation :Motivation : Mr. Bean Mr. Bean

is motivated by is motivated by selfish selfish goalsgoals that are typically that are typically pettypetty, , hedonistichedonistic, or , or competitivecompetitive..

Development:Development: While While he does he does go through go through many conflicts and many conflicts and challengeschallenges, and often , and often lose in the end (for lose in the end (for which we which we pity himpity him), he ), he does not learn from his does not learn from his behavior or his behavior or his selfishnessselfishness. .

Character ConflictsCharacter Conflicts 2 basic types of 2 basic types of

conflictsconflicts ExternalExternal

– Person versus PersonPerson versus Person can be individuals or groupscan be individuals or groups

– Person versus EnvironmentPerson versus Environment Social or economic issue (racism, Social or economic issue (racism,

poverty, sexism)poverty, sexism) External weather source (rain, snow External weather source (rain, snow

storm, lack of oxygen) storm, lack of oxygen) Animals (lion, anaconda, dinosaur)Animals (lion, anaconda, dinosaur)

– Person versus UnknownPerson versus Unknown Supernatural in natureSupernatural in nature Often converts to another type (when Often converts to another type (when

we discover that it is person, self, or we discover that it is person, self, or environment)environment)

InternalInternal– Person versus SelfPerson versus Self

Internal struggleInternal struggle Emotional, mental, or moral dilemmaEmotional, mental, or moral dilemma

SettingSetting Stories have Stories have

specific locationsspecific locations where where important important eventsevents occur occur

Setting plays a Setting plays a key key rolerole for creating an for creating an emotional emotional connectionconnection for a for a readerreader

Like character there Like character there are several are several elements to settingelements to setting

SettingSetting

PhysicalPhysical– Where and whenWhere and when the story the story

occursoccurs– LocationLocation

Castle, coffee house, school, Castle, coffee house, school, villagevillage

– DurationDuration From start to finish, how From start to finish, how

much time has passed?much time has passed? Hour? Day? Year? Decade?Hour? Day? Year? Decade?

– ““Period-ation” Period-ation” What time period or year is What time period or year is

it time? it time? Time of year? Season?Time of year? Season?

SettingSetting

EmotionalEmotional– Mood & AtmosphereMood & Atmosphere of of

a settinga setting identical settings can identical settings can

produce different feelings produce different feelings depending on descriptiondepending on description

– EmotionEmotion Happy, sad, scary, Happy, sad, scary,

reflective, lonely, reflective, lonely, nostalgic, etc.nostalgic, etc.

– ImpressionImpression Based on all factors, what Based on all factors, what

is the overall impression is the overall impression that the setting createsthat the setting creates

SettingSetting Location: Location: SchoolSchool or or

examination facilityexamination facility in in EnglandEngland or British- or British-accented countryaccented country

Duration: Duration: 2-3 hours 2-3 hours (clock (clock shown at start and finish)shown at start and finish)

Period: Modern time; Period: Modern time; late late 2020thth Century Century (based on (based on cars, cultural references, cars, cultural references, and clothes), and clothes), daytimedaytime, , spring or spring or summersummer (no (no leaves or snow)leaves or snow)

SettingSetting Emotion: As this is an Emotion: As this is an

exam, there is a exam, there is a natural feeling of natural feeling of stressstress and and tensiontension; we feel ; we feel pity and anxietypity and anxiety for Mr. for Mr. Bean; will he be caught Bean; will he be caught cheating? will he be cheating? will he be thrown out of the thrown out of the exam?exam?

Impression: Overall, Impression: Overall, the atmosphere is one the atmosphere is one of of structure and structure and formalityformality in an exam in an exam room. room.

SettingSetting Settings fall into two categories:Settings fall into two categories: Primary SettingPrimary Setting

– the main location or area where the main location or area where the majority of the significant the majority of the significant events occurevents occur

– A story can have more than one A story can have more than one primary setting, but often most primary setting, but often most stories do not have more than 2 stories do not have more than 2 or 3. or 3.

Secondary SettingSecondary Setting– A location where less important A location where less important

events in the story occurevents in the story occur Most authors do not use Most authors do not use

secondary settings unless the secondary settings unless the story is focused more on the story is focused more on the plot such as mysteries, horror, plot such as mysteries, horror, thrillers, and epic stories thrillers, and epic stories

PlotPlot Series of Series of important eventsimportant events

or or significant actionssignificant actions in a in a storystory

Usually involves one of the Usually involves one of the four conflictsfour conflicts

Significant actionSignificant action are are only an those events which only an those events which affectaffect the the characterscharacters, , settingsetting, , storylinestoryline, or , or themetheme

Plot manipulationPlot manipulation occurs occurs when events happen that when events happen that are are unrealisticunrealistic based on based on the setting, characters, the setting, characters, prior plot points, or the prior plot points, or the story’s realitystory’s reality

Plot SummaryPlot Summary Plot SummaryPlot Summary: a : a prose summary of the key eventsprose summary of the key events in a story in a story

from beginning to end (maximum ½ page for a short story; one from beginning to end (maximum ½ page for a short story; one page for a novel, movie, or play)page for a novel, movie, or play)

Mr. Bean arrives early for a math exam and teases a fellow Mr. Bean arrives early for a math exam and teases a fellow student about studying. As the exam starts Mr. Bean realizes student about studying. As the exam starts Mr. Bean realizes he himself did not study the right material and tries to cheat by he himself did not study the right material and tries to cheat by looking at the other student’s paper. After many failed looking at the other student’s paper. After many failed attempts, Mr. Bean gives up. At the end of the exam he attempts, Mr. Bean gives up. At the end of the exam he discovers that there were two sets of questions and hurriedly discovers that there were two sets of questions and hurriedly tries to complete the exam but, as usual, fails. tries to complete the exam but, as usual, fails.

Plot DiagramPlot Diagram

A A line diagram of key eventsline diagram of key events in a story in a story from beginning to endfrom beginning to end

10-15 events points for a short story10-15 events points for a short story 30-40 events for a novel, movie, or full-30-40 events for a novel, movie, or full-

length play)length play)1.1. Reread the story and make a Reread the story and make a point-form, point-form,

chronological listchronological list of ALL the most important of ALL the most important significant actionssignificant actions..

2.2. Rank each itemRank each item from 1-100 based on the amount of from 1-100 based on the amount of tensiontension or conflict at that moment or conflict at that moment

3.3. Graph the tensionGraph the tension on the y-axis and events on the x- on the y-axis and events on the x-axis and connect the dots.axis and connect the dots.

Plot DiagramPlot Diagram1.1. Mr. Bean drives his car to the exam (0)Mr. Bean drives his car to the exam (0)2.2. Forces other car off the road (20)Forces other car off the road (20)3.3. Locks car and enter exam (10)Locks car and enter exam (10)4.4. Sits down and talks/teases other Sits down and talks/teases other

student (20)student (20)5.5. Mr. Bean takes out his exam materials Mr. Bean takes out his exam materials

(10)(10)6.6. Exam begins (20)Exam begins (20)7.7. Mr. Bean does not know the answers Mr. Bean does not know the answers

(30)(30)8.8. Tries to look at other student’s answers Tries to look at other student’s answers

(40)(40)9.9. Copies down answers (50)Copies down answers (50)10.10. Other student crumples up paper (40)Other student crumples up paper (40)11.11. Mr. Bean crawls under desk (50)Mr. Bean crawls under desk (50)12.12. Mr. Bean caught and goes back to his Mr. Bean caught and goes back to his

seat (40)seat (40)13.13. Mr. Bean cries out “Mommy” (50)Mr. Bean cries out “Mommy” (50)14.14. Exam end announced and different Exam end announced and different

coloured “papers” explained (50)coloured “papers” explained (50)15.15. Mr. Bean finds paper and tries to finish Mr. Bean finds paper and tries to finish

exam (60)exam (60)16.16. Takes pencil from other student (70)Takes pencil from other student (70)17.17. Told to “stop writing!” (80)Told to “stop writing!” (80)18.18. Mr. Bean throws pencil and smashes Mr. Bean throws pencil and smashes

alarm clock (90)alarm clock (90)

Mr. Bean's Exam

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Plot SummaryPlot Summary IntroductionIntroduction: introduces the setting, : introduces the setting,

characters and general plotcharacters and general plot Initiating actionInitiating action: first conflict that : first conflict that

causes the tension to risecauses the tension to rise Rising actionRising action: all events between the : all events between the

initiating action and climaxinitiating action and climax ClimaxClimax: highest point of tension in a : highest point of tension in a

story; typically when the conflict between story; typically when the conflict between the protagonist and antagonist is the protagonist and antagonist is resolvedresolved

Denouement or Falling actionDenouement or Falling action: decline : decline of tension after the climaxof tension after the climax

EndingEnding: final moment or overall feeling : final moment or overall feeling at the end of the storyat the end of the story– Happy / Sad EndingHappy / Sad Ending– Expository EndingExpository Ending: loose ends are : loose ends are

explained by a narratorexplained by a narrator– Indeterminate EndingIndeterminate Ending: story ends : story ends

abruptly without resolving major abruptly without resolving major issues or conflictsissues or conflicts

– Surprise EndingSurprise Ending: unexpected twist to : unexpected twist to the plotthe plot

ThemeTheme Message the authorMessage the author wishes wishes

to share based on the to share based on the interactions between the interactions between the characters, settings, and characters, settings, and main plotmain plot

A A moral lessonmoral lesson we are we are meant to learnmeant to learn

Controlling ideaControlling idea or focal or focal pointpoint

Must be a Must be a general statementgeneral statement Not an absolute statementNot an absolute statement Cannot be a clichéCannot be a cliché Must Must account for all major account for all major

aspectsaspects of the story of the story

Symbol & IronySymbol & Irony SymbolSymbol: object, event, or even a person that has a deeper : object, event, or even a person that has a deeper

meaning or significancemeaning or significance– A sword can symbolize “revenge” and also “connection” (The A sword can symbolize “revenge” and also “connection” (The

Princess Bride)Princess Bride)– Colours can have inherent symbolism: red (blood, love), black Colours can have inherent symbolism: red (blood, love), black

(evil, night), white (good, purity), green (jealousy, money)(evil, night), white (good, purity), green (jealousy, money)– Symbols can be layers (a red Sith light saber represents evil, Symbols can be layers (a red Sith light saber represents evil,

revenge, hatred, power)revenge, hatred, power) IronyIrony: contrast in meaning or ideas to what is generally : contrast in meaning or ideas to what is generally

meant or understoodmeant or understood– VerbalVerbal : saying one thing but meaning another; sarcasm is a : saying one thing but meaning another; sarcasm is a

“tone” that can indicate verbal irony; body language and “tone” that can indicate verbal irony; body language and “sounds” are considered verbal“sounds” are considered verbal

– DramaticDramatic: the reader or audience knows something that : the reader or audience knows something that characters do not knowcharacters do not know

– SituationalSituational: an outcome that is very different from what is : an outcome that is very different from what is normally expectednormally expected

Point of ViewPoint of View Author’s choose “how” to tell the storyAuthor’s choose “how” to tell the story The choice of which “type” of narrative is used determines the The choice of which “type” of narrative is used determines the

“flavour” of the story“flavour” of the story First Person NarrativeFirst Person Narrative

– Using “I” Using “I” – May involve a character who is directly or indirectly involved in the storyMay involve a character who is directly or indirectly involved in the story– We are strictly limited to what this character can observe and see; his We are strictly limited to what this character can observe and see; his

abilities to “tell” are also a factor; he could be lying; he could be abilities to “tell” are also a factor; he could be lying; he could be exaggerating exaggerating

Omniscient NarrativeOmniscient Narrative– Uses the 3Uses the 3rdrd person (he, she, they) person (he, she, they)– The narrator is an unseen forceThe narrator is an unseen force– The thoughts of any character can be shared; we know what characters The thoughts of any character can be shared; we know what characters

are thinkingare thinking– Narrator is not limited by time or space; can comment or explain Narrator is not limited by time or space; can comment or explain

anythinganything Limited Omniscient NarrativeLimited Omniscient Narrative

– Like “Omniscient”, yet only one character’s thoughts are sharedLike “Omniscient”, yet only one character’s thoughts are shared Objective NarrativeObjective Narrative

– Like a “movie camera”, the narrator can only share what can be seen or Like a “movie camera”, the narrator can only share what can be seen or heardheard

– No commentary or explanations are providedNo commentary or explanations are provided

Final TermsFinal Terms

ForeshadowingForeshadowing– Plot, character, or Plot, character, or

setting elements that setting elements that “hint” at something that “hint” at something that is going to happen later is going to happen later in the story; often has in the story; often has elements of irony when elements of irony when the “hint” is made clearthe “hint” is made clear

FlashbackFlashback– A scene from the past is A scene from the past is

retold or “re-narrated” retold or “re-narrated” as if it is currently as if it is currently happeninghappening

SuspenseSuspense– The building of tension The building of tension

that maintains the that maintains the interest of the readerinterest of the reader

Build Your TableBuild Your Table In your group of 4-5 you In your group of 4-5 you

must now analyze must now analyze character, setting, plot, character, setting, plot, and themeand theme

Instead of “assigning” a Instead of “assigning” a person to each topic, work person to each topic, work together on each one (be a together on each one (be a collective using your collective using your individual skills to help you individual skills to help you all)all)

Finally, make a Finally, make a “connections” page that “connections” page that connects the story to our connects the story to our world and your livesworld and your lives